My XBOX 360 Preorder

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:35 am

That's true, Scoop. I've heard horror story upon horror story about EB's, and the EB Games closest to me is clean, well-organized and has knowledgable, friendly employees.

I guess I've just found bad Wal-Marts in the 10 or 12 I've visited around the country, both at home and in my travels. Yeah, I've been to a Wal-Mart when on the road if I forgot some basics when packing.

Take care,
PK

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:40 am

Much of the blank stares are probably because they do not train employees at all, other than basic things (safety/emergency), how to use the phones, registers, etc. . I sell TVs (now big screens, LCDs, and HDTV), cameras, stereos, video games, etc. yet I've never been formally trained on any of these products aside from my own experiences.

It's very frustrating when you work with somebody who doesn't have much interest in these products and thus has to rely on me for the entire night, leaving me with at least 2x the work while already being understaffed. I've brought this up to my management on the last three of my evaluations and I'm always met with the same type of response: "That's a good idea, I'll look into it" and nothing ever happens. Maybe they think that if they train their employees properly they know that they'll be a valuable commodity to other companies and thus will leave, or they may expect an extra twenty cents an hour as a result of being properly trained?

I also must admit that the customers of the store must be among the laziest that I've ever encountered. My electronics department might take 2 minutes if you walk up and down every aisle looking for what you need and you can probably logically deduct almost half the department so you don't have to go down those aisles, thus resulting in an even shorter trip; despite all of this, I still hear, "Do you know where the video tapes are?" at least twenty times in the span of a shift and simple instructions such as, "They're down the second-last aisle" usually results in customers either walking down the last aisle (because they weren't even paying attention to my answer in the first place and were expecting me to guide them by the hand to the product), or walking by the video tapes, which occupy a four foot section and are very difficult to miss. I mean, I would've walked them there but I have to do this when I'm occupied with another customer. And then you have people who get visibly annoyed/pissed when I'm only doing my job by asking if you need help, etc. .

Most of those people with blank stares, etc., probably have just given up and don't give a f*** anymore because they know that their employers barely give a f*** about them. Obviously you should probably quit your job if you feel that way (and I only haven't because I'm in school and work 2-3 days a week).

Almost any store can have a "blanket statement" attached to them because of one's bad experiences but they're just personal experiences that cannot be extrapolated to include everyone. I'm not going to say, "Wal-mart customers are f***in idiots" because it's not true and I'd be including probably every single one of you guys because you've all shopped there at one time or another (well, probably 90% of you), nor am I going to say, "EB workers are arrogant, lying, rude, jerks" just because that's the experiences that I've had with them.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:42 am

pk500 wrote:That's true, Scoop. I've heard horror story upon horror story about EB's, and the EB Games closest to me is clean, well-organized and has knowledgable, friendly employees.

I guess I've just found bad Wal-Marts in the 10 or 12 I've visited around the country, both at home and in my travels. Yeah, I've been to a Wal-Mart when on the road if I forgot some basics when packing.

Take care,
PK

PK I think you are missing the #1 point of Wal-Mart. Not only do you get discounts, but hanging around the dregs of society (a large demographic of the customers) gives you an ego boost. It makes you feel on top of the evolutionary food chain.

Yea Wal-Mart sucks and I don't shop there unless it's like 3 in the morning and I need something. Sorry but any company willing to have Hillary Clinton on it's board of directors is no place I want part of.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:50 am

sportdan30 wrote:The only thing that concerns about Wal-Mart, and I suppose you could say it happens at Target, K-Mart, etc. is the origin of the clothes in the mens and womens department. The majority of the clothes that are stocked at these discount stores come from oversees where there are absolutely horrid working conditions and low low wages paid to the laborers. I'm talking fifteen cents an hour. I watched a Dateline special a few months ago and it was eye opening to say the least.

Clothes are probably not the only things at WM which were made with slave wages. Often, the terms of manufacturing employment are really one-sided. Not only are the wages low, you have to pay your employer for housing and food at ridiculous prices which bind you to that employer for a long time. It's a modern form of indentured servitude. Yet it's a better option for most of these workers, many of whom come from villages. A lot of them end up supporting their family back home on these meager wages. In other cases, workers are from countries like Burma which are subject to sanctions. So they cross the border to neighboring countries where the employer has all kinds of leverage over them.

WM is not the only retailer whose suppliers take advantage of workers. But WM pushes their suppliers to continually lower prices every year, so they in turn get more aggressive in keeping wages down. A company like Nike seems more susceptible to outcries about the labor practices of their contract manufacturers while WM seems to make no apologies.

When there was the big outsourcing debate last year, the answer was that if you want cheap goods at stores like WM, then you better shut up about outsourcing. Or for that matter, labor and environmental standards.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 1:13 pm

pk500 wrote:
laurenskye wrote:What in the world does Walmart sell that you would need to ask help with? Do a little research on the net. I always no exactly what I'm going to get before I step in any store.
Hmm ... maybe:

"Where do I find this in the store?"
"Do you have this in a different size?"
"Do you know when another shipment of this will arrive?"
"Do you have any more of these in the warehouse that aren't on display?"
"What's your return policy on this item?"

Ok, so besides women's underwear, what would you need to ask about

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 1:53 pm

bdoughty wrote: PK I think you are missing the #1 point of Wal-Mart. Not only do you get discounts, but hanging around the dregs of society (a large demographic of the customers) gives you an ego boost. It makes you feel on top of the evolutionary food chain.

Especially ironic when rubbing shoulders with customers that don't believe in evolution.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 2:24 pm

Brando70 wrote:Especially ironic when rubbing shoulders with customers that don't believe in evolution.

LOL, and Dover is the next town over from mine!

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:16 pm

Warning for those hoping to get their Xbox 360 at Toys R us. A few TRU employees have mentioned that the stores will be forcing bundles now.

This one from GAF

Thought you were gonna get a non bundle, non reserved 360 at TRU? Think again.

Got word today that they're reserving 360 bundles. The cheapest bundle will be $600, then a $760 bundle. And I'm sure some stores may even throw the protection plan as a requirement, I don't put anything past these f*ckers.
Oh yeah, we're getting a total of 8 systems too.
This is going to end well.

----

I'm gonna need mother f*cking Kevlar! I don't know how many people I've told it will be first come first serve on the 22nd, because up until today that was the plan.
When we've got a line of people in the morning of the 22nd, and have to tell them 0 are for sale because they've all been pre-sold, s*** will be funny as hell to watch.
Oh wait, I don't work Tuesdays.
Woo!

slyguy · Post by **slyguy** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:48 pm

Sport73 wrote:Has everyone who is NOT getting their pre-order on the 22nd been called/contacted by EB? If I haven't received a call is that an indication that I'm OK?

I'm concerned, but I would hate to stop by the store and give them an excuse to bump me by bringing it up.

Sport i never received a call i called them and they told me i'm not getting it on the first shipment

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:47 pm

At least Wal-Mart is good for the overall economy, it seems.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/11/0 ... k0hd4.html

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:50 pm

webdanzer wrote:At least Wal-Mart is good for the overall economy, it seems.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/11/0 ... k0hd4.html

Unless you want to work there.

http://fairfieldweekly.com/gbase/News/c ... oid:132245

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 8:11 pm

The study was commissioned by Wal Mart?

And it says Wal Mart helped depress wages by 2.2% but you came out ahead if you bought stuff from them at lower prices?

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 8:16 pm

wco81 wrote:The study was commissioned by Wal Mart?

And it says Wal Mart helped depress wages by 2.2% but you came out ahead if you bought stuff from them at lower prices?

Sorry. lackosmiley hurt me here.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:14 pm

Sorry for the threadjack.

I called my EB today and I'm not getting one from there on launch. They are getting 16 and I am 30th.

slyguy · Post by **slyguy** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:40 pm

I just came back from bestbuy and they said they are getting 60 units in(all best buys)and they are not opening at midnight but may open up early in the morning

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:09 pm

slyguy wrote:I just came back from bestbuy and they said they are getting 60 units in(all best buys)and they are not opening at midnight but may open up early in the morning

I wouldn't count on that. The best buy I shop at "claims" they're getting 20-25 units.

Personally, I think all these places are just speculating.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:29 pm

Boom wrote:
slyguy wrote:I just came back from bestbuy and they said they are getting 60 units in(all best buys)and they are not opening at midnight but may open up early in the morning
I wouldn't count on that. The best buy I shop at "claims" they're getting 20-25 units.

Personally, I think all these places are just speculating.

I'm pretty sure each location will get a different amount. I'm sure Microsoft has let all the stores know how many they're getting by now. I found out that I'm definitely on the first shipment at my Gamestop and the manager told me they're getting in 50.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:43 pm

I'm pretty sure each location will get a different amount. I'm sure Microsoft has let all the stores know how many they're getting by now. I found out that I'm definitely on the first shipment at my Gamestop and the manager told me they're getting in 50.

First let me say, congrats and it's great news to hear you're on the first shipment.

Now, here's what I don't get. I reserved my system on May 24th along with Madden, PGR3. Later on I went in and preordered NBA 2K6 and another wireless controller.

The entire time since my initial reservation, I've been going in and slapping down money, slowing paying it off every other week or so.

Recently they've told me that I'm on the 2nd shipment. Apparantly their cutoff date is May 22nd (how convenient!). They claim that they do not know how many they are getting in.... but here's the kicker. Check this out.

If... IF they get more than their 30 on the first shipment it becomes a first come first serve (as in stand in line rock concert style) for the rest. As long as you are on the 2nd shipment list and they have one in stock when you come up the counter you get one. No longer does the date for which you "reserved" your system come into play.

This has got to be the shadiest business practice for a major chain like this that I've ever seen.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:48 pm

I totally agree with you Boom. That totally sucks and is a pretty shitty business model. I had no idea you could reserve one at Best Buy in May either. I'm not sure the Best Buys out by me even took any preorders. I hope you're able to find one on launch.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:54 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:I totally agree with you Boom. That totally sucks and is a pretty shitty business model. I had no idea you could reserve one at Best Buy in May either. I'm not sure the Best Buys out by me even took any preorders. I hope you're able to find one on launch.

Well, BB definitely has been taking preorders on games. At least the one by me. But not on the systems.

F'n TRU called me today only to tell me I have to buy the bundle if I want the 360. Hell no!

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:17 pm

Whoops! This is not at Best Buy, but at Gamestop. Forgot to mention that.

AcemanPR · Post by **AcemanPR** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:44 am

Some Best Buys will receive 300 units, some only 30, depending on the volume of the store. Also, those that have pre-ordered at Gamestop or EB Games, don't believe anything anyone has said yet. I have a friend who is a manager at a Gamestop. One of the stores here have 400 preorders. At this time, they are only expected to get 300 360's in, but if production goes well, all 400 will be fulfilled. Stores that have 50 preorders and say they are only getting xx amount in do not know for sure yet. There are just nervous managers trying to cover their ass and get people to drop their preorders so there isn't a shortage. This coming week, all stores will start getting official word of the number of consoles they are getting. So anything that has been said to this point has been hearsay. So Boom and others with preorders at some stores, don't give up hope yet.

SoMisss2000 · Post by **SoMisss2000** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 6:46 pm

well I contacted gamestop today and was told that I'm one of the first ones on the list. He also sttd that just about everyone who preordered early (i did in May) will get one on the 22nd. This is a low traffic, relatively obscure location. It's only been open less than a year too.

That said, my xbox went on ebay this morning.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 7:00 pm

Those looking to preorder late in the game (for the 22nd)...Toys R Us is now taking preorders available on the 22nd. They have 2 bundles. I know one is an XBOX 360 Premium system, extra controller (wired), Madden, NBA Live, and Kameo. The 2nd one is simlar but there are 6 games instead of 3. Just a heads up for those that are desperate.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 7:04 pm

BTW, I saw the 360 in action today and was VERY impressed. some guy was playing Call of Duty 2 and it was one superb looking game. Tremendous lighting and smoke effects, sound was great. Draw distance was awesome. It looked much better than the PC demo I played a few weeks back. The HD monitor made a huge difference.